2. "It's not
fair."

Simply complaining about an injustice isn't going to change the
situation. "Whether it's a troubling issue at work or a serious
problem for the planet, the point in avoiding this phrase is to
be proactive about the issues versus complaining, or worse,
passively whining," Darlene Price, author of "Well
Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get
Results" told
Forbes.

3. "I haven't had
time."

"More often than not, this is simply not true," said Atle
Skalleberg in a
LinkedIn post. Whether you didn't make time for the task or
forgot about it, Skalleberg suggests giving a time when it will
be done instead of explaining why it's late.

4. "Just"

Adding "just" as a filler word in sentences, such as saying "I
just want to check if..." or "I just think that..." may seem
harmless, but it can detract from what you're saying. "We insert
justs because we're worried about coming on too strong," says
Mohr, "but they make the speaker sound defensive, a little whiny,
and tentative." Leave them out, and you'll speak with more
authority.

5. "But I sent it in an email
a week ago."

If someone doesn't get back to you, it's your job to follow up,
says Skalleberg. Be proactive when communicating instead of
letting the other person take the blame.

6. "I hate..." or "It's so annoying
when..."

Insults have no place in the office, especially when directed at
a specific person or company practice. "Not only does it reveal
juvenile school-yard immaturity, it's language that is liable and
fire-able," says Price.

7. "That's not my
responsibility."

Even if it's not your specific duty, stepping up to help shows
that you're a team player and willing to go the extra mile. "At
the end of the day, we're all responsible," Skalleberg says.

8. "You should
have..."

"Chances are, these fault-finding words inflict feelings of blame
and finger-pointing," Price says. She suggests using a positive
approach instead, such as saying, "In the future, I
recommend..."

9. "I may be wrong,
but..."

Price calls this kind of language "discounting," meaning that it
immediately reduces the impact of whatever you're about to say.
"Eliminate any prefacing phrase that demeans the importance of
who you are or lessens the significance of what you contribute,"
she says.

10. "Sorry, but..."

This implies that you're automatically being annoying. "Don't
apologize for taking up space, or for having something to say,"
says Mohr.